The Department of Education and Training (DET) has unveiled its plan to ensure school and early childhood education is as safe as possible for students and staff ahead of a return to face-to-face learning next week (31 January).
Announced by Minister for Education, James Merlino, the DET’s Back to school plan is to see rapid antigen testing (RAT) in place for at least the first four weeks of Term One; third-dose vaccine mandates; improved ventilation in high-risk areas; masks; and workforce planning.
“Government will deliver more than 14 million rapid antigen tests to schools and early childhood education and care services, including 6.6 million tests to be delivered in the first week of term,” Mr Merlino said.
“This surveillance testing will be strongly recommended for all primary and secondary school students and staff, and early childhood education and care staff, twice-weekly at home before school or childcare,” he said.
“Students and staff at specialist schools will be recommended to test five days each week due to the higher risk of severe illness for medically vulnerable children.”
Mr Merlino said school and early childhood staff would be added to the list of workers who must receive a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine by 25 February if they were already eligible, or within three months and two weeks of their second dose.
The Minister said 51,000 air purification devices would be delivered to Government and low-fee, non-Government schools for the first day of Term One.
He said 30 pop-up vaccination clinics were set to open on school sites throughout the Term to provide children aged five to 11 with access to two doses of COVID-19 vaccine.
“In light of potential significant but short-term staffing challenges in schools and early childhood services in Term One, the Government has classified education staff as critical workers – allowing household contacts to voluntarily continue working if they are asymptomatic and return daily negative rapid antigen tests,” Mr Merlino said.
“Government has also launched a pool of inactive teachers, education support staff, retired principals and surge administrative support staff for schools to access to cover any COVID-19-related workforce shortages.”
He said that from Term One, schools and kindergartens would be required to inform staff, parents and carers when there was a positive case and would provide advice on any steps families were required to take.
Mr Merlino said students in Grade 3 and above would be required to wear masks indoors and teachers would be required to wear masks when not actively teaching or communicating with students.
Further information on DET’s Back to school plan can be accessed at this PS News link.
